BIRDS OF KANSAS. 357 



Iris dark brown; bill and claws black; legs and feet grayish 

 to brownish black. 



This common and well known species are rightly entitled to 

 the name they bear, on account of their brave, audacious at- 

 tacks upon the birds of prey and others intruding upon their 

 breeding grounds. This combative spirit, however, closes with 

 the season, and their shrill, twittering notes are seldom heard 

 after the young are capable of providing for themselves. The 

 males arrive about a week in advance, and on the arrival of the 

 females, many a hard battle is fought for the choice. Their 

 courtships are short, and, when once mated, they are true and 

 devoted, and zealous guardians of their homes. The follow- 

 ing truthful description is from ' ' Birds of New England, ' ' by 

 Samuels: 



'"During the mating and breeding season, the pugnacity and 

 courage of the Kingbird are proverbial. If any bird approach 

 the neighborhood of his nest, he immediately attacks it; and, 

 whether Crow (his particular dislike), Hawk or Eagle, the in- 

 truder is obliged to flee, so fierce an onslaught does this little 

 warrior make on him. As soon as the cry of a Crow is heard, 

 he is all activity; he flies from the tree where he is perching to 

 reconnoiter, uttering his shrill twitter, and vibrating his wings 

 in short, quick, nervous strokes; as soon as the Crow appears, 

 the Kingbird pursues it, his flight being now very swift and 

 powerful. As soon as he nears his foe, he flies above him, and 

 darting down on his back and head, attacks him with such vigor, 

 that the Crow dives and dodges to avoid him. He repeats his 

 attacks, and follows his enemy, sometimes to the distance of a 

 mile or more; then, returning to his mate, he perches on the 

 tree by her nest, and twitters a volley of courageous songs." 

 [Song is not the word, for its notes are not musical, but rather 

 a harsh, exulting twitter.] 



"The food of the Kingbird consists mostly of insects,* which 

 he captures usually while on the wing. It seems a provision 

 of nature, that all the flycatchers shall only take those insects 

 that have taken flight from the foliage of trees and shrubs, at the 



* Berries also help to make up their bill of fare, the pokeberry being the favorite. 



